SUICIDE AT PORO-O-TO-RAO.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 374, 1 December 1898, Page 2

SUICIDE AT PORO-O-TO-RAO.

INQUEST. An inquest, touching the death of Helen Mary (Nellie) Corboy, who was found in a dyiug state, with her throat cut, in one of the rooms ot Hunt's boarding-house, at Porooto-rao tunnel, on Monday evening last, was held at the Te Awamutu railway station building on Tuesday morning last after the arrival of the 8.30 a.m. train from up-country (which brought the body down), before Mr Coroner Gresham and a jury, consisting of Messrs Lyons, Bockett, Davidson, Conn, Chapman and Daly, of which Mr Lyons was chosen foreman. After viewing the body, which presented a ghastly spectacle, front the wound in the throat, the first witness called «'as John Wright, who, on oath, said :—I am on the staff of the survey on the cooperative works. I knew the deceased, Nellie Corboy (I think her name is Helen Mary Corboy ) Have known her five or six months. She has been at Hunt's boardiug-house all the time. I saw her last alive at tea - time, about 5-30 p.m. on the 28th inst. She was waitress. At that time she was a bit quieter than usual. There was nothing to attract attention. I have never heard her make any threat of selfdestruction. I was a boarder at the time, and saw the deceased frequently. She seemed a bit down in spirits the last three or four days. She was inclined to be a lively girl, and not quarrelsome. On Sunday last she said she -whs not feeling very well. She never complained about too much work. After tea yesterday 1 returned from the store with some newspapers deceased asked me for to wrap up the lunches with. I sleep at the store and board at the house. This was about seven o'clock. Outside the house I saw Tyzack, Cameron aud others who are all on the co-opsrative works. Up to then things were all right. I went into the kitchen to give the deceased the papers she asked for. She was not then in the kitchen. 1 waited for a minute, thinking she was out at the well. Then I heard a peculiar noiae like somebody beiug sick. This proceeded from Mr Hunt's bedroom. Me Hunc was at the time away at the tunnel to meet the train. I thought she was sick and I ran into the bedroom. I found she was on her knees and the blood running on to the floor. I saw no wound then. She tell back into my arms. I let her down on to the floor on her back and ran and called the other men. I did not notice ■any knife at the time. Tyzack and the others came in. When we went back she was alive, but far goue. She looked to me to be dead. The others notified the police about a-quarter past seven or so. Constable Hyde came down in about three-quarters of an hour. Tyzack aloue remained from the discovery of the body till the police arrived. Harry Hunt called on oath said: I reside at the tunnel, where I keep a boarding-house. The deceased had b«en with me for six months, and employed as a waitress. She was between 20 and 21 years old. She came from Whatawhata, where her parents reside. _ I saw her every day. She was usually in good spirits. I noticed nothing to lead me to suppose she would commit such an act. 1 noticed a change in her last Friday. She was talking to herself often when alone. I overheard her talking in a room and went to see if anyone was there. She seemed in good health. She was in good spirits yesterday. I was away at the tunnel when the deed was commuted. As far as my knowledge goes I corroborate the evidence of the last witness.

The last witness called was Constable Hyde, stationed at the Poro-o-torao tunnel. On Monday evening, about 7.15 p.m , Mr Hunt came to my place and informed me that Nellie Corboy had cut her throat. He did not know if she was alive or dead. I went through the tunnel on the train and got on the horse and rode to the house, about two miles distant. Several men were standing at the door of the board-ing-house. I asked where the body was. Three or four of them went with me. Tyzack went with me iuto the bedroom, which was occupied by Mr Hunt. This was 7.30 p.m. or about. I saw the deceased lying on the floor on her tack, and a quantity of blood was on the floor. All around her was a great pool of blood, and on her clothes. I could see she iyjtfi dead. On examination, I discovered™ deep wound across the throat. The body was warm. I then looked about and on turning her over, I found the knife produced underneath her (a large butcher's knife). There was only one cut on the throat. There was no wound ou either hands or on the body. There were no marks of violence, I did not know the girl. This concluded the evidence and-the Coroner addressed the jury. A verdict was returned " That deceased died from the effects of a wound self-inflicted." There was no medic il evidence, it being considered that there was not a shadow of a doubt but the wound was aelf-inflioted.